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Supreme Court Rolls Back Campaign Spending Limits. Dear God.

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posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 05:44 PM
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Originally posted by maybereal11
Scott Brown caries an (R) after his name...not an (I)...He is a Republican that successfully appealed to the same general discontent with Washington politics that Candidate Obama did..


What else does Scott Brown carry?


Campaign disclosure but no donation limits. (Nov 2002)

www.ontheissues.org...

Which is part of the issue. The fact corporations are able to assure their bribes get through. Brown isnt the only one, just look at how many other Democrats and Republicans who supported this.

American citizens have the right to petition the government and its a constitutional right. It doesnt matter even if you are a corporate CEO, you still hold that right to petition. The issue with this specifically is that it defines a corporate as an individual and there for granted those constitutional rights, which is BS in my opinion as corporations are nothing of the sort. Campaign limitations are part of the issue as well as they need to be lowered significantly.



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 05:44 PM
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I have no problem with the idea of less restriction on communication, and if they have upheld the Constitution, that is fine. The effect of what they have done is to increase the need for actual public involvement in the governing of the country.

For those of you who say "this is the end of the country," what you really mean is "this is the end of the days where I can just sit back and let some elected officials do all the work. This is the end of the days where I can enjoy the benefits of freedom without having to actually be involved, except for casting a few 'ballots' every year."

Right about now you should be getting together and formulating a plan for POLITICAL take-over, and thinking of ways to counter the corporate use of the media. They own media outlets... so should you. They have political schools... so should you. They have effective political parties... so should you. They have messages that ring to the public's ear... so should you.

If you can't convince "the people" to embrace true freedom using persuasion and compelling message, you will never convince them with the barrel of a gun. The original founding fathers were intelligent, wise, and highly articulate. Now, you must be these things as well... as many of you as possible. For the appropriate organizations and start recruiting your members/candidates. Watch the movie "MILK" and see how one man changed San Francisco forever. You may not agree with his lifestyle, but you certainly should admire his heart and his methods.

You sir and you madam can set aside your agenda and take up an agenda that will benefit your country and your future. You CAN run for an office and you CAN get elected if your message rings true with the people and you can get to tell them about it. You can't go it alone. You need to join yourselves together, and you need wise leadership that can motivate, guide, and protect.

You need to change the direction of your thinking and the people's thinking before it is impossible to do so. The flood gates have been opened to a deluge of increased corruption, so the only prudent and wise response is that you must now open your own deluge of political counter-attack.



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 05:45 PM
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The founders of America always assumed that "the people" would be highly involved in politics. They assumed that you sir, your neighbors, your friends, would all run for office and get directly involved. Never was it intended for there to be just two political parties. Never was it intended that you could just sit back, earn money, and build your life in isolation from political life.



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 05:47 PM
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Originally posted by marg6043
reply to post by downisreallyup
Well I guess you have millions to spare to compete with mulitbillion dollar corporations and private interest. So hey I am just a broke tax payer, good for you. You really have not clue what this means, pity.


It's called TEAMWORK... and yes, there are people who have millions to do this, IF they are only willing. Watch the movie MILK if you haven't seen it. It will show you have common people can get into important positions. You may not be qualified to run yourself, but you can certainly give time to helping those who are. That kind of "I'm just a poor taxpayer" mentality is what is going to guarantee your countries demise. I'm sure you spent time going to the movies, or reading ATS, or watching the boob-tube. Perhaps you'd be willing to get involved with others that are also willing to do something tangible. Are you willing to study about the political process, instead of reading some novel? Are you willing to attend a political meeting instead some other recreational activity? It's all about choices, and at this point in your nation's history, what it needed is for common folks to ban together and pool their resources for a common plan of change.

It doesn't take billions to get elected... it takes a message that will win the hearts of the people. There are plenty of ways to communicate that don't take massive amounts of money, especially if people donate their time.



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 05:48 PM
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Originally posted by marg6043
reply to post by downisreallyup
 


The problem is that, now most AM and FM belongs to religious groups and everything else is been control by satellite corporations.



Radio Stations for Sale
How to Buy a Radio Station

For the price of a house, you too can own your own radio station! Get some people together into a group and make it happen. It's time to stop talking and to start acting with WISDOM. Just look at what the elite do and follow their lead. Don't get fooled by their billions. That is like a country being afraid of America's hundreds of nukes. It only takes one nuke to destroy a city, so it doesn't matter if a country has hundreds or one. The same principle applies here. If you have enough money to get some media outlets, you have enough to start making a difference. Look at Alex Jones. He is ONE guy, who started off small, and has grown. Now, what if there were 100 Alex Jones' all speaking the same message? What if they were less dramatic then he is so they didn't hurt their message because of presentation? What if they maintained complete honesty and refused to give in to the temptation to sell products? Open your mind to the possibilities.



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 05:48 PM
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Originally posted by marg6043
reply to post by downisreallyup
 


keep dreaming in America Politics are bought and sold, no regular Joe gets a chance anymore, just look at the leaders in congress and presidential seat guess who got them there, big interest.

Wake up and smell the stench of reality in the nation of big interest money.

BTW I don't go to movies, don't waste my time with your tube and to tell the truth the only place I spend time is here in ATS.


You are quite filled with excuses... it's what's called a "nay-sayer." I've worked with plenty of people who have this mentality, and I have never found them to be correct. As they continue spouting their "can't do" attitude, those who know otherwise just go out and do it.

So, you have one thing you do besides work and pay taxes... sit on ATS? Well, why don't you start a thread here to gather other ATSers to form a local group near your home? Don't think that all politics is bought, because that is just a gross exaggeration. Why does Ron Paul keep getting elected? Ever wonder that? Why do his constituents keep putting him back to congress? Anyone can run for an office. What people lack is strong political vision and the ability to articulate it. That is what needs to be fostered. But, given your propensity for finding excuses, perhaps you do need to just keep doing as your doing. The country will never be changed by people with your thinking, and indeed, when it is changed, you will owe a great debt to those who did make change happen. Perhaps then, my posts are written to those who realize that the difference between success and failure is most often the mentality of those involved.



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 05:49 PM
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Originally posted by David9176
reply to post by downisreallyup
 





They assumed that you sir, your neighbors, your friends, would all run for office and get directly involved. Never was it intended for there to be just two political parties. Never was it intended that you could just sit back, earn money, and build your life in isolation from political life.


The people cannot get involved because they cannot compete with corporate money. They can't get news that isn't corporate on television. Corporations dictated ALL opinions and the direction of our country. We've seen it on television with the tea party movement. Almost all networks demonized tea partiers....while Fox News turned it into a neo-con side show.

We can talk about what was INTENDED all day long from any point at any angle you wish....but that certainly does not change the situation.

I knew about this ruling but I cannot influence it as it's a supreme court decision. I had hopes that they wouldn't rule this way. I love the Constitution...but this gives unbridled power to INTERNATIONAL corporations. This gives power to China, Russia, or any other country that has sprinkled it's tentacles into our political system.

What needs to happen is that Corporations should be stripped of their rights as human beings. A Corporations is not a human being..it is an artificial creation of human beings....therefore they do not have free speech. An individual in a corporation...a LEGAL CITIZEN...Does however have free speech.

[edit on 21-1-2010 by David9176]


The PEOPLE can compete IF they will work together. They will only work together if they are shown a plan that makes sense. Look at how many people gathered behind Ron Paul, and they indeed began to make a difference. The problem was that Ron Paul had a bad campaign director. Also, he can't be the only one who is in government. You need to get away from the "rock star" mentality and get out there. Listen, you want to tell me what isn't possible, and yet, what have you done directly to try and do anything? Your excuses are just arm-chair politics. Instead of thinking about how impossible this all is, why don't you put your brain cells to work trying to come up with workable strategies. If you say "we can't do it" then many people will nod in agreement, not because they really know it to be true, but merely because SOMEBODY is saying something. If, on the other hand, you say "we CAN do it, and HERE IS HOW" then people will listen and begin to change their ideas.

For example, let's think about how to "think out of the box." Do you know anyone capable of putting together a concert? I know people here in New Zealand, and this is just a small country of 4 million. Okay, so let's say you know somebody or can find someone. You say to the person "how would you like to help save our country?" When they say "how" you explain the following:

"First we visit some bands and make a speech to them about the dangers that face us. We get some to sign up for a "Save America" concert tour across America. We set up a website that people will be directed to go to. This website will be promoted at the concerts. The bands will play patriotic songs that talk about the people getting involved or else the country will be no more. At the website people will be encouraged to get directly involved and to give their money for specific purposes. People gave lots of money to Ron Paul, and yet what did he do with it all? In this case, the money that is given would go to purchasing low-cost radio stations, establishing low-cost schools for political education, for producing "citizen's handbooks", and building an infrastructure for change. Rallies would be organized also, whose purpose would be to get people excited about the change, and to get them to put their signature on specific ballot issues that would begin to change the local and state governments. These should be laws that limit Federal interference in the state's affairs. What you want to do is begin breaking up the political "log jam" that has formed.

The general lack of political education has convinced most Americans that you are safer with a single large state, but nothing could be further from the truth. One of the best safeguards to freedom is a union of relativity small, yet independent states. It is far harder to corrupt such a thing, as opposed to one monolithic country.

How many of you see yourselves as citizens of your state? If you live in California, do you call yourself a "Citizen of California?" Do you read your state's constitution? That is far more important for you to understand because that is really where the political power exists. The Federal government is trying to erode the power of the individual states because they know that is the only way to take America over. That is where you need to fight them. Reassert your state's autonomy. If a majority of you get elected to the state-level government you can overturn laws and agreements that cede your state's sovereignty. That is why it is imperative that you have solid political education and have leaders who are truly interested in saving the Republic. Look for them. Hunt them out. They are there among you. They aren't the guys wearing suits or working for big business. They are the common people who have been hiding away in their homes studying about all this. They are there. You just need to find them. Ask around. Talk to some small-time lawyers. Find those who love constitutional law. Perhaps the real agents for change are only 20 years old. The young people are sickened by what they see. Get them involved. Tell them they can make a difference if only they will put themselves to the task. Show them how. Help them. Fund them. Warn them to do the right thing. Warn them to not love money, for the love of money truly is the root of all evil.

Also, the corporations only have power because they get it from you, the people. You can easily organize to boycott any company that advocates destroying state sovereignty or the Republic. You can insist that companies remain in the United States and don't move to China. If they don't listen, you simply boycott them. The power is in your hands people. You just don't know how to use it because you are not interested in politics... but your apathy towards politics will be your undoing. You have created your own problem because you love what the corporations do for you, more than you love your country... or you have not realized yet that you must indeed choose between those two. Perhaps you can have both, but YOU must master the art of political control. If you do not, then others will do it for you, and they will do it for their interest, not yours.

Never before has mankind had the means to organize into extremely powerful political groups. The Internet allows vast numbers of people to unite for positive political change, and yet, pornography and useless chatting seems to be what that awesome technology is used for most. You have truly allowed your society to become a place of self-imposed slavery, where you have handed the whip and the keys to those who will feed you your meals. As long as you are unwilling to "feed yourselves" like free people, those task-masters will continue to oblige you.

Think about what you have done to yourselves. You wanted a life where you could buy food at big stores for cheaper and cheaper prices... you got it. You wanted a life where you could all own cars, nice homes... you got it. You wanted a system of fierce competition in business, without regulation... you got it. You wanted an economic system that removed political influences from monetary policy... you got it.



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 05:50 PM
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reply to post by downisreallyup
 


Glad your passionate, but you don't know Americans.

This # won't fly... did you see what was on TV?



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 05:51 PM
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It's time for the populace to do something about the corporate takeover of our country. The masses, whether left wing or right wing or beyond wings must now start to unite rather than fight each other. We must become invigorated rather than apathetic against our real enemies.

It's time to stop quarreling with each other, underclass vs. underclass, over manufactured knee-jerk propaganda issues and redirect our anger and efforts towards radical change in this country. We need to start talking to each other more, and making serious demands of the powers that be, as a force to be reckoned with and not JUST in internet postings, diners, bars, coffee shops, and living rooms. It's time to unite on the most hugely important issues that we ALL care about like freedom, the environment, health, the wealth gap, and unplugging from the system for better lives.

This news presents a giant step backwards in the fight to get SOME kind of progress in this country for we the people. We should be clamping down on corporate control of our political process much MORE not LESS!

Can we all really keep going on like we are (in so many ways)?

Sorry if I sound over-dramatic, but I think many times we all feel this way, we're sick of the bull# and we want to start implementing real solutions to our societal problems.



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 05:52 PM
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Originally posted by jimmyx

but that's exactly what they did...because they were thinking about themselves...not the country as a whole.
how can you have change, when your voting the exact same people back in from 2006???? you think that the GOP wants to help liberal mass. people??
this is like a boxing match, where your fighter is not winning, but is holding his own....so you, during the 2 min break between the 7th and 8th rounds, tell him he's not winning the fight and you're going to tie one hand behind his back because you're disappointed in him, for not having knocked the opponant out yet.


Yah...pretty much. But Americans aren't known for being patient...It's hard to think long term when you are unemployed and collection agancies are hounding you hourly....And the Obama Administration is explaing how healthcare reform will save the country Billions....10 years from now.

The President mishandled Healthcare reform, the GOP just screamed about it because it was a Democratic iniative and it afforded them opportunity to collect unheard of sums of lobbying money from the insurance industry despite them not being in power.

Democrats underestimated the economic pain of the average american and the lack of a simple reform bill that moved quickly...well it is .."it's the economy stupid" all over agian.

No, Americans are not a patient lot and given the state of the economy it's hard to blame them...the clock was ticking all along on healthcare reform...and now it just appears that the Democrats are blind to the economic pain.

I am for Healthcare Reform and more or less liberal and mostly a Democrat, but I "get" what happened.

MA was not a thumbs up to the GOP...it was more of a WTF to the Democrats in power...and I think voters felt a little insulted by the caliber of candidate the Dems ran in MA...just assuming MA would fall in line.

Anyone notice the irony? This was Ted Kennedys seat...

[edit on 21-1-2010 by maybereal11]



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 05:56 PM
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reply to post by downisreallyup
 


yeah that's all nice...but...if a corporation doesn't like what your doing, they will go and tell senator (somebody) to stop what you are doing by creating some type of legislation to kill your action. and if that senator doesn't do that, the corporation will pump millions of dollars into ads for his defeat in the next election.



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 05:56 PM
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Boston is liberal, Mass, not so much.

Mitt the # Romney is governor after all.

And he ALSO beat a female Dem...



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 05:56 PM
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reply to post by downisreallyup
 


I hear you. But I've been stumping for my party the old fashioned way. Door to door. Face to face with my neighbors. There are people out there who won't register to vote for fear they will have to to jury duty. No lie.I can't blame the corporations. There just engaging in business, and the business of America is... The citizenry have let it get to this state. And it's up to us to fix. But the job is akin to beating ones head against a wall.



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 05:59 PM
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I can't what a plutocracy America is now. They've failed the good intents of our founding fathers for a new, better nation. We need change, but how?



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 05:59 PM
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Originally posted by seethelight
reply to post by downisreallyup
 


Glad your passionate, but you don't know Americans.

This # won't fly... did you see what was on TV?


Yes sir, I do know Americans, far better than you could possibly realize. I know that even though people are quite bewitched by the current culture, if a group of citizens would follow some of my suggestions, things could begin to change. That is why you need to make the political education process exciting and dramatic. You need to start thinking like big corporate America thinks. You need to use psychology to help people better understand themselves and their world.

The fact is, just because a group of people live in a country, that does not qualify them to run the country. It takes far more strength to be a ruler than it does to be a peasant. If you people want to run the country, you need to stop acting and thinking like peasants. I study government. I study politics. I study human psychology. I equip myself to be the best person I can be. I do this instead of watching television. I do this instead of living for constant entertainment. I don't use illegal substances so that my brain is in top form. I do this by my own volition and will. You all have the same choice. When you come home from work, what do you do? How do you spend your time? What kind of friends do you spend time with? I spend my time with people that will help me reach my goals, just as I help them to reach theirs. Do you live with a vision to make a better world, or do you live with pure selfish motives to attain a life of luxury and ease? Which is it? You will get what you choose, though you may not like the consequences, and you may not keep it for long without continual effort.



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 06:01 PM
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reply to post by AllexxisF1
 


Keep in mind that the Unions, pressure groups like the Rainbow Coalition, ACORN, Siera Club, NARAL and the rest of the leftist organizations are now without limits as well. There are two sides of this coin.



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 06:06 PM
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reply to post by downisreallyup
 


If you DID know Americans you;d realise that they are extremely unwilling to sacrifice for the common good.

You'd realise that selfishness is the American way, it underpins our entire identity.

If we start limiting ourselves to help others we believe those limits will be applied to our kids.

We are scarred of government.

We constantly vote in politicians that claim to HATE government,

You're suggesting that Americans behave selflessly, but Americans will say, "what's in it for me".

Hell, we'd lie about our kids floating off in a balloon if we thought it might get us on a reality TV show.

Californians are destroying themselves because a majority can't be convinced to suffer A LITTLE for the greater good.

All of his means no one with the skills to win a meaningful election will do it for nothing. And even if they did a corporation can now just spend, literally anything they want to lie and smear that candidate into the ground.

I wish you well trying to convert Americans into more selfless community minded people, but I would bet all the money in the world it won't happen.

Which is sad.



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 06:08 PM
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reply to post by dolphinfan
 


Won't matter.

Those groups traditionally focus on a few candidates or are completely reliant on lots of small donations from individuals.

Corporations only limits are their imaginations.

Think of the illegal phones clogging, that was all right wing and corporate.

This # is gonna go real bad, real quick.

And no one will notice.



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 06:12 PM
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reply to post by maybereal11
 


well...they now will be disappointed for the next 6 years because...hey...they got their feelings hurt. oh poor babies, boohoo, obama wasn't fast enough...oh boohoo....we'll show obama....we'll vote in a republican.

hey...let's have everybody vote back into power the REPUBLICANS!!!
because they have done such an outstanding job before!!

yeah...let's bomb iran
yeah...let's eliminate minimum wage
yeah...let's cut off medicare
yeah...let's limit social security or cut it out altogether
yeah...make abortion illegal
yeah...build more prisons
yeah...cut off all federal welfare to those unworthy poor people
yeah...repeal all those silly workplace rules

[edit on 21-1-2010 by jimmyx]



posted on Jan, 21 2010 @ 06:18 PM
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Corporate personhood MUST be repealed.

Everybody should check out this website for more info on the history/reality of corporate personhood and how it's destroying our political process:

www.reclaimdemocracy.org...


Kucinich is the MAN on this issue:





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